Neckband-shaper.



Nu. GBUJM. Patented Oct. 23, moo.

A. E. GRANT.

NECKBAND SHAPER.

(Application filed Feb. 20, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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ALBERT E. GRANT, OF TROY, NEXV YORK.

NECKBAND SHAPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,10d, dated October 23, 1900. Application filed February 20, 1900. Serial No. 5,884. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. GRANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Neckband-Shapers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a top plan view of my improved shaper in its normal unrestrained position occupied while ont of use. Fig. .2 is a similar view of the shaper in use, showing a portion of a shirt with its neckband inclosing the shaper. Fig. 3 is a side view of the shaper.

Manufacturers of shirts and similar wearing-apparel in laundering such goods consider it of great importance to impart to the neckband not only a standing position at right angles to the bosom, but an iron-poL ished appearance throughout its entire length. The goods so laundered present a neat and attractive appearance, which renders them more salable.

My improved shaper is preferably made of a single piece or strip of sheet metal 1, which is bent to approximately the peripheral form desired for the finished neckband and provided with the reentrant V-shaped bend. The inner end or apex 2 of the bend forms a spring, and the bifurcate arms 3 and at form convenient handles for operating the device. One of the handles 3 terminates in an oifset or bracket 5 at one end of the main strip, which offset or bracket is secured to the inner side of the body of the main strip near its otherend, as by the rivets 6, thereby forming a peripheral abutment to support the neckband interiorly and having a contractible and expansible opening 7 between the handles, which opening is contracted by forcing the handles toward each other and expanded when the handles are released by the expandinginfluenee of the spring. The other end of the strip forms a peripheral bridgepiece 8, which projects from the handle 3 toward the other handle at when the shaper is in its normal unconstrained position, as seen in Fig. 1. When the shaper is compressed as in use, this projection laps the handle 4 and wholly bridges the open space between the two handles, as seen in Fig. 2.

The operation of the device is as follows: The shaper is grasped by one hand, With the thumb on one handle and the fingers on the other handle and the handles pressed toward each other until the shaper is contracted sufficiently to enterthe neckband, whereupon it is inserted within the band and allowed to expand until it stretches the band and occu pics the position shown in Fig. 2, with the bridging projection 8 supporting the ends of the neckband 9. It should be observed that the ends 10 and 11 of the neckband are held together by the button or stud 12, inserted in the end buttonholes in the band in the usual manner. The band is then ironed and polished by a hot iron in the usual manner, the exposed outer end portions, as well as the body part of the band, taking a uniform polish and finish throughout.

By making the shaper of a single piece or strip of metal instead of two or more no labor is required in assembling parts and very little in forming and securing the single part in shape, it only being necessary to bend and rivet one end to the body of the strip.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A neckbandshaper formed of a single strip of resilient sheet metal having its middle portion bent to the form of a neckband, and having near one end a reentrant bend, said end being attached to the inner side of the strip near its other end and said other end projecting beyond said attached end and adapted to overlap the body of the strip on the opposite side of said reentrant bend, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of February, 1900.

' A. E. GRANT.

WVitnesses:

E. M. OREILLY, FRANK O. CURTIS. 

